Iowa Hawkeyes clash with Michigan in Big Ten battle
The last time the Hawkeyes were ranked higher than the Wolverines when the two met was 1985 when Hayden Fry was at the helm, a fact that Kirk Ferentz and his Iowa staff have no doubt been reminded of several times this week leading up to their prime time battle with Michigan on Saturday night. Before we get to that game however, there's a crucial contest for Oregon in the Pac-10 when they travel to face UCLA.
Judging by this week’s college football coverage, you’d think the only two things that matter are quarterbacks and the SEC, in no particular order. Most of the talk surrounds Tim Tebow’s health heading into No. 1 Florida’s battle at No. 4 LSU on Saturday night. Tebow (concussion) is a game-time decision for the Gators, 7.5-point chalk for the contest.
What about the action everywhere else? Yes, Louisiana State is 5-0, but Iowa is also undefeated, while Oregon is 4-1 despite one of the nation’s toughest schedules in the early going.
No. 13 Oregon at UCLA (+3.5, 46)
Saturday, Oct 10, 3:30 p.m. (ET) ABC
The Ducks (4-1, 3-2 ATS) opened as 6-point chalk for their matchup with the Bruins (3-1, 3-1 ATS) on Saturday, but the uncertainty surrounding quarterback Jeremiah Masoli forced oddsmakers to adjust the line.
Masoli left Oregon’s 52-6 pasting of Washington State last week after injuring his knee in the second quarter, and didn’t return as the Ducks covered easily as 35-point home favorites. He missed the first two days of practice this week before making it to the field on Wednesday, but Masoli remains doubtful. If Masoli can’t go, backup Nate Costa would start at the Rose Bowl.
UCLA has better news for backers at the quarterback position, with Kevin Prince expected to be under center after missing two games with a broken jaw. Prince’s return could be just what the Bruins need after the offense stalled in their 24-16 loss at Stanford (-5) last week. Kevin Craft went 22-of-34 for 204 yards in his second start, but he couldn’t move the ball when it counted.
Safety Rahim Moore (concussion) is hopeful to play after going down against the Cardinal, and UCLA needs him with Oregon looking to go through the air more than usual on Saturday. Not only is Masoli the Ducks’ quarterback, but he’s become their leading rusher with LeGarrette Blount (suspension) out until at least November 7. With Masoli and Blount out and top wide receiver Rory Cavaille (probable, shoulder) in, Oregon is going to be a pass-first team against UCLA.
The Ducks defeated the Bruins 31-24 when the schools met in Eugene last season, although it was UCLA (+19) that took home the cash. Counting their 16-0 blanking of the Ducks at the Rose Bowl in 2007, the Bruins are 3-1 ATS (2-2 SU) in the last four meetings between the Pac-10 rivals. Furthering the public’s case for UCLA is its 21-6 ATS record in its last 27 home games.
Michigan at No. 12 Iowa (-8, 47.5)
Saturday, Oct 10, 8:05 p.m. ABC
Which Iowa team will show up when the Hawkeyes (5-0, 3-1 ATS) clash with the Wolverines (4-1, 3-2 ATS) at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday night?
If it’s the school that barely slipped past Arkansas State (+21) 24-21 last week, there’s no doubt Iowa is going to have trouble cashing against Michigan. That’s certainly the thinking behind the consensus numbers, considering 65% of wagers on the spread have come in on the very-public Wolverines.
The Hawkeyes’ win over the Red Wolves wasn’t their only Jeckyll & Hyde performance this season. Iowa defeated Northern Iowa 17-16 in its opener in a game for which oddsmakers didn’t even bother setting a line.
If the Hawkeyes do bring their best game – like when they rolled into Beaver Stadium and knocked off Penn State 21-10 as 9.5-point pups in Week 4 – then all of those Wolverines bettors are in trouble. The trends are also working against Michigan: Iowa is 37-17 ATS in its last 54 home games, and is 8-2 against the number in the last 10 meetings between the schools.
The Wolverines come into the showdown after falling 26-20 in overtime at Michigan State (-4) last week. Down 20-6 with 14:49 remaining, Tate Forcier led Michigan on a pair of scoring drives culminating in his 9-yard touchdown pass to Roy Roundtree with two ticks on the clock. The Spartans got the best of the Wolverines in OT, however, handing them their first SU defeat of the season.
Forcier finished 17-of-32 for 223 yards with two TD tosses and an interception against Michigan State, and he’ll need to be better for Michigan to cover on Saturday. The freshman quarterback also led the Wolverines in rushing with 27 yards on the ground last week, and he’ll be up against a Hawkeyes defense that hasn’t allowed a rushing TD in 33 quarters of football.
The last time the Hawkeyes were ranked higher than the Wolverines when the two met was 1985 when Hayden Fry was at the helm, a fact that Kirk Ferentz and his Iowa staff have no doubt been reminded of several times this week leading up to their prime time battle with Michigan on Saturday night. Before we get to that game however, there's a crucial contest for Oregon in the Pac-10 when they travel to face UCLA.
Judging by this week’s college football coverage, you’d think the only two things that matter are quarterbacks and the SEC, in no particular order. Most of the talk surrounds Tim Tebow’s health heading into No. 1 Florida’s battle at No. 4 LSU on Saturday night. Tebow (concussion) is a game-time decision for the Gators, 7.5-point chalk for the contest.
What about the action everywhere else? Yes, Louisiana State is 5-0, but Iowa is also undefeated, while Oregon is 4-1 despite one of the nation’s toughest schedules in the early going.
No. 13 Oregon at UCLA (+3.5, 46)
Saturday, Oct 10, 3:30 p.m. (ET) ABC
The Ducks (4-1, 3-2 ATS) opened as 6-point chalk for their matchup with the Bruins (3-1, 3-1 ATS) on Saturday, but the uncertainty surrounding quarterback Jeremiah Masoli forced oddsmakers to adjust the line.
Masoli left Oregon’s 52-6 pasting of Washington State last week after injuring his knee in the second quarter, and didn’t return as the Ducks covered easily as 35-point home favorites. He missed the first two days of practice this week before making it to the field on Wednesday, but Masoli remains doubtful. If Masoli can’t go, backup Nate Costa would start at the Rose Bowl.
UCLA has better news for backers at the quarterback position, with Kevin Prince expected to be under center after missing two games with a broken jaw. Prince’s return could be just what the Bruins need after the offense stalled in their 24-16 loss at Stanford (-5) last week. Kevin Craft went 22-of-34 for 204 yards in his second start, but he couldn’t move the ball when it counted.
Safety Rahim Moore (concussion) is hopeful to play after going down against the Cardinal, and UCLA needs him with Oregon looking to go through the air more than usual on Saturday. Not only is Masoli the Ducks’ quarterback, but he’s become their leading rusher with LeGarrette Blount (suspension) out until at least November 7. With Masoli and Blount out and top wide receiver Rory Cavaille (probable, shoulder) in, Oregon is going to be a pass-first team against UCLA.
The Ducks defeated the Bruins 31-24 when the schools met in Eugene last season, although it was UCLA (+19) that took home the cash. Counting their 16-0 blanking of the Ducks at the Rose Bowl in 2007, the Bruins are 3-1 ATS (2-2 SU) in the last four meetings between the Pac-10 rivals. Furthering the public’s case for UCLA is its 21-6 ATS record in its last 27 home games.
Michigan at No. 12 Iowa (-8, 47.5)
Saturday, Oct 10, 8:05 p.m. ABC
Which Iowa team will show up when the Hawkeyes (5-0, 3-1 ATS) clash with the Wolverines (4-1, 3-2 ATS) at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday night?
If it’s the school that barely slipped past Arkansas State (+21) 24-21 last week, there’s no doubt Iowa is going to have trouble cashing against Michigan. That’s certainly the thinking behind the consensus numbers, considering 65% of wagers on the spread have come in on the very-public Wolverines.
The Hawkeyes’ win over the Red Wolves wasn’t their only Jeckyll & Hyde performance this season. Iowa defeated Northern Iowa 17-16 in its opener in a game for which oddsmakers didn’t even bother setting a line.
If the Hawkeyes do bring their best game – like when they rolled into Beaver Stadium and knocked off Penn State 21-10 as 9.5-point pups in Week 4 – then all of those Wolverines bettors are in trouble. The trends are also working against Michigan: Iowa is 37-17 ATS in its last 54 home games, and is 8-2 against the number in the last 10 meetings between the schools.
The Wolverines come into the showdown after falling 26-20 in overtime at Michigan State (-4) last week. Down 20-6 with 14:49 remaining, Tate Forcier led Michigan on a pair of scoring drives culminating in his 9-yard touchdown pass to Roy Roundtree with two ticks on the clock. The Spartans got the best of the Wolverines in OT, however, handing them their first SU defeat of the season.
Forcier finished 17-of-32 for 223 yards with two TD tosses and an interception against Michigan State, and he’ll need to be better for Michigan to cover on Saturday. The freshman quarterback also led the Wolverines in rushing with 27 yards on the ground last week, and he’ll be up against a Hawkeyes defense that hasn’t allowed a rushing TD in 33 quarters of football.